Bird Guide

Lawrence's Goldfinch vs Yellow-bellied Siskin

Lawrence's Goldfinch (Spinus lawrencei)

Lawrence's Goldfinch

Spinus lawrencei

Tiny11 gForest

At about 4.75 in (12.1 cm) long and weighing about 0.4 oz (11 g), it is slightly bigger than the lesser goldfinch and slightly smaller than the American goldfinch, with less yellow in the plumage than either. Adults of both sexes are gray with pink to grayish flesh-color bills, stubbier than other goldfinches'. They have yellow rumps and paired yellowish wing-bars, as well as yellow edges on the flight feathers and yellow on the breast. The tail is black, crossed by a white band. Plumage is duller in winter, brightening after a spring molt.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Dorothy Johnson · CC0
Yellow-bellied Siskin (Spinus xanthogastrus)

Yellow-bellied Siskin

Spinus xanthogastrus

Tiny13 gForest

The yellow-bellied siskin is 10 to 11.5 cm (3.9 to 4.5 in) long and weighs about 11 to 14 g (0.39 to 0.49 oz). The species is sexually dimorphic. Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a glossy black head, chin, breast, and upperparts. Their tail is mostly glossy black with yellow bases to the outer feathers. Their wings are mostly glossy black with bright yellow bases on the primaries and secondaries. Their lower breast, belly, and undertail coverts are bright yellow with an olive tinge on the flanks. Voice: One description of the yellow-bellied siskin's song is "a fast, bubbly ser. of twitters, buzzy notes, and musical sputterings, almost as if randomly generated". It is "complex and usually with a few high, thin notes mixed with low nasal notes". Its calls include "thin or high-pitched pee or pyee and harsher bziee" notes.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Emily Franzen · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Lawrence's Goldfinch and Yellow-bellied Siskin.